"When I resumed my human feelings and had refreshed myself, I wandered again to the green wood that extends towards Florac, there, where the rocks assume a grand character as far as the mountains of Lozere. The place pleased me and I passed the night in the open air.
"What did you do on this second night of my absence? where did Franz remain? do you think that I do not know all?" The father looked at him with fear.
"What do you know?" asked he stammering. "When I again turned my thoughts on the Saviour," said the son, "and endeavoured to account for my bewilderment, in order to assist my researches, I felt compelled to think on you, on my sister and on our house, thus will it assuredly be after death, the soul will still cast lingering looks after its cherished old nature and be unable for a length of time to comprehend its new thoughts and strange existence. Suddenly, when my ardent desire was accomplished; I saw you; all was still in the house, you went with Franz more quietly than usual and with great caution into the library, the window shutters and doors were closed, there was only one taper burning. With the help of Franz you removed the folios, and at the same time drew back the first bolt of the by chest, the pressure of a spring you opened the pannel, which slid back into the wall and threw light into the little enclosed recess. I saw several small chests standing there, jewels of costly value were in them, that I never knew of and which you never mentioned to me, but Franz seemed to know all. You opened the cases, arranged them and added some others to them. Franz wept and said: 'So now my wish will be at length accomplished of living at Geneva in future and openly acknowledging the faith that I have been compelled to deny here.' This also was new and unexpected to me. Then you embraced the old servant heartily, kissed him on the mouth and said with emotion: 'You are now no longer my servant, but my friend, my most confidential friend, for to you I confide my entire welfare, my property, and my children. God protect you on your way there and back, give these letters into the right hands at the same time with this little treasure; steal as you can over the frontiers, then we are safe, and return directly with favourable answers.' That very night, he accomplished fifteen leagues."
The old man trembled violently; he examined his son doubtingly, his face was pale. "Where have you seen all this?" demanded he at length. "Yonder in the mountains of Lozere, fourteen leagues from here." There was a pause. "I must believe you," said the father. "Be it a miracle, delirium, an undiscovered strength of nature; I see, but I understand it not. All is in reality as you have said, but your manner is terrible to me. Do you not then believe, that as you have fallen, in so unusually strange a manner, into this disposition, conviction, and miraculous gift, there may be also means, which heaven, if you in faith and humility call upon God will open to reconduct you into the ordinary walk of mankind, far from these fearful rocks upon which you must inevitably founder."
"You understand me not, I tell you once more," cried the youth, "although I quite understand your meaning. You do not trust the token that I have given you. Yet," added, he smiling, "you are not quite so hardened just now, better thoughts steal over your soul, though also from the region of unbelief."
"And what is it?" asked the father, "you will otherwise make me believe that you are able to penetrate into all the hidden depths of the heart."
"You were thinking just now," said Edmond:--
"Let him take his course, the evil must now have reached its height, perhaps God wills that he should find at length by this more than wonderful means, his salvation, and that he may learn later to cool by reason and true christian humility, the fanaticism, that now transform him into a lunatic. Thus do you think of me, thus do you deny the spirit." "My son," said the old man with uplifted looks, "is it a good spirit that prompts you? is it not perhaps the wild wandering of nature herself in you that transports you beyond her own limits?"
The son cast again that terrifying look on his father, which rendered him mute.
"You are free," said the old man, "affection alone, not force should retain you. Go then and follow the dictates of your own heart. My prayers shall accompany you, and, may be, they will have the power to mitigate, or ward off the worst."